Subfamily Faboideae Scientific name Robinia Rank Genus | ||
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Lower classifications Black locust, Robinia hispida, Robinia neomexicana | ||
Robinia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae, native to North America and northern Mexico. Commonly known as locusts, they are deciduous trees and shrubs growing 4–25 metres (13–82 ft) tall. The leaves are pinnate with 7–21 oval leaflets. The flowers are white or pink, in usually pendulous racemes. Many species have thorny shoots, and several have sticky hairs on the shoots.
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The genus is named after the royal French gardeners Jean Robin and his son Vespasien Robin, who introduced the plant to Europe in 1601.
The number of species is disputed between different authorities, with as few as four recognised by some authors, while others recognise up to 10 species. Several natural hybrids are also known.
Some species of Robinia are used as food by larvae of Lepidoptera, including such moths as the brown-tail (Euproctis chrysorrhoea), the buff-tip (Phalera bucephala), the engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia), the giant leopard moth (Hypercompe scribonia), the locust underwing (Euparthenos nubilis), and Chrysaster ostensackenella.
Toxicity
All species produce in all parts toxic lectins, with the exception of the flowers. The flowers are used as tea, and in pancakes.
Robinia flowers are consumed as fritters in many parts of Europe.
Species
(*: not accepted as distinct by all authorities)